Lowry Park Zoo

Friday, 25 July 2014

2 months ago, I googled for a zoo to spend my birthday and I was grateful that the Lowry Park Zoo (1101 West Sligh Avenue, Tampa, FL 33604) gives free admission for birthday guests!   I am also grateful that my employer granted me this day off so that I could visit the zoo.    So we only paid $22.95 (for seniors 60 and above) and saved $24.95 (adult).















There were a lot of children in the zoo today, since it is still school break.  So there were school groups and family groups outings.

We had a wonderful time at the zoo.   We were thankful that it didn't rain while we there for 6 hours!   Isolated thunderstorms was forecasted for yesterday afternoon.   Many trees shaded us from the sun.   There were 7 free zoo rides and we got on the "expedition Africa guided safaris".   Got to touch a lama, stood close to a owl and touched stingrays.

Touched a lama, for the very 1st time in my life!

Beautiful owl.  We were warned not to touch it or else we would be hurt by the bird.

If we hadn't looked up, we wouldn't have saw her, nesting!

I think it is a mongoose.

Initially there was only the lone female elephant feeding at the pile of hay, where the mother and baby elephants were feeding in this picture.    The lone female picked up a big bundle of hay, with her trunk, and walked quickly to the left when the mother and baby elephants came up!

This is the most favourite part of my visit - the manatee.   I have not heard or learnt about manatee until now.    1st manatee we saw was one swimming with its back out of the water.   The sign board said:

Quote:

Why is that manatee floating?
The manatee that you see with its back out of the water is suffering from an injury caused by a boat strike.  Its ribs were broken, which punctured a lung, causing its body cavity to fill with air.

What will happen to it?
It is receiving veterinary and supportive care until the lung can heal and hold air again.  The trapped air will then be tapped out or absorbed by the body and barring any infection it should make a full recovery and be released back into the wild.

Unquote


We were able to see other manatees.   It was so interesting to watch them.   They are so gentle.   We were told they will eventually be released into the wild.

We saw this statue at the entrance but I didn't care for it until after the visit to the live manatees.   I thought the statue looked worn out and dull.   Took this picture when we were making our way out of the zoo and I am so glad I did.

Don't remember what snakes they are.  There were two of them sleeping together.

Who is the hunter here?

A young water buffalo playing with a can.

Touching stingrays was a first time for me too.   We were told verbally.   There were also written posters on the pillars of the bay stating that we use only our 2 fingers to touch them on their fins.   They feel so soft and silky.   I really enjoyed seeing them swim and flagging their fins.   Neither Mike and I took any pictures of this interaction.   I guess we were both carried away with the beauty of the stingrays.   If I recalled correctly, there were 17 of them.

Just love the zoos and being with God's creation and nature.

Spirit of Buffalo Pow Wow

Friday, 10 January 2014

My 1st experience with Pow Pow is in Winterhaven, California was in March 2008, where I met the actress Irene Bedard.

This time, at 1052 US Hwy 92 West, Auburndale, Florida, I didn't meet any movie star.  We paid $4 each for entrance fee.   I enjoyed looking at the many handicrafts that were displayed for sale and alo enjoyed watching the dancing.

Lollipop Feathers

Small Dream Catchers

Youngest Dancer

Lady Dancer

Ring Dancer

Bus Stop 15

Tuesday, 26 November 2013

Another building that caught our eyes in Tampa, Florida.   There may be more of that struture in the city.  For me, I thought that was so different from what I have seen so far.

HART Bus Stop 15, Tampa, Flordia

Episcopal House of Prayer

Tuesday, 26 November 2013

We didn't plan to visit this historical building in Tampa, Florida.   Saw this by chance, as we drove through that street.  Unique structure made with rocks.  Asked Mike to stop for me to look at the description plate on the wall and to take a shot of it as well.   The plate read EPISCOPAL HOUSE OF PRAYER ERECTED 1922.

Episcopal House of Prayer, Tampa, Florida

Airstream Ranch of Trailers

Wednesday, 6 November 2013

You can't miss these partially buried trailers in Dover, on the Interstate 40 between Lakeland and Tampa.    Either we drove so far that we missed them or it was already too dark for a picture.   I am glad today Mike remembered and stopped and I was able to take pictures from inside the car.

I thought that was such a unique and clever idea.    Thanks to the internet, I was able to find some information about it - http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/airstream-ranch-along-i-4-does-not-violate-law-judges-rule/1072831

I don't know Frank and Dorothy Bates, who put them up, but I want to say that was so clever!   I love it!

Right Time and Right Place

Saturday, 5 October 2013

Talking about the right time, the right place and God's leading hand.  We were meant to be there.

She was standing alone at the side of the road, with a phone to her ear, and a car ditched.   Mike stopped and asked if she was alright.  She said she had no family in the city and she was calling her employer but they could not come to help because of the business/customers.   She got her driving licence not too long ago and was on the way to work but had driven a little too fast at the curve and her car spun once and ended in the ditch.  The road was obviously slippery after some rain during the night.

Grateful that the two truck came shortly to pull it out.  Except for a little dent, it was a blessing that her car was okay.   And most importantly she was not physically hurt.  She was emotional and shakened when we spoke to her.

Driving on the Left Side of the Road?

Wednesday, 2 October 2013

No, it was not driving on the left side of the road.   Not in the US.   A tractor was being hauled.